NEW RIVER GVC WILL HOST COLLEGE GOAL SUNDAY FEB. 12

New River volunteers (L-R) Donna Polk, Donna Feijo, Carrie Patton and Melinda Ford assisted with last year's College Goal Sunday event at the New River Community and Technical College Greenbrier Valley Campus.

[Lewisburg, WV] The third annual West Virginia College Goal Sunday event will be on Sunday, Feb.12, at 19 sites around West Virginia. The New River Community and Technical College, Greenbrier Valley Campus in Lewisburg, W. Va., is one of the sites hosting the event.

College Goal Sunday is an opportunity for students and parents to have financial aid experts provide free, confidential, and professional support to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA is a crucial first step for all college students who plan to pay for college with the help of grants, scholarships, work-study funds, and/or student loans.

Coordinators for the New River site are Nora Overath, financial aid counselor, and Donna Polk, student program advisor, at the Greenbrier Valley Campus. The event will take place from 1-4 p.m. in Greenbrier Hall, 101 Church Street. Parking is available in the lot behind Greenbrier Hall.

Free tax preparation will be provided by VITA volunteers to assist students and families completing a FAFSA that day. This service is available for these persons only, and certain restrictions apply.

Students who participate will be entered to win an Apple iPad. Nineteen iPads will be given away—one for each College Goal Sunday location. Individuals who plan to attend college, would like help with completion of the FAFSA, or would like answers regarding general financial aid questions are encouraged to attend.

Interested students and parents are asked to bring their Social Security numbers and 2011 tax records. Those who have not yet completed their 2011 taxes can bring 2010 forms. For a complete list of what to bring, visit www.cfwv.com. All information shared is protected by privacy laws.

New River representatives will also assist with the College Goal Sunday event at the Erma Byrd Public Higher Education Center in Beaver. A complete list of other College Goal Sunday sites can also be found on the website. For further information about the Greenbrier Valley Campus event, contact Overath or Polk at (304) 647-6560.

The College Goal Sunday program was created by the Indiana Student Financial Aid Association with funding from the Lilly Endowment Inc. and supplemental support from the Lumina Foundation for Education.